Princess Akiko of Japan is making an unofficial visit to Bhutan at the invitation of Queen Jetsun Pema of Bhutan to mark the 40th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Bhutan and Japan. On August 11, 2026, Princess Akiko was received by King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck and Queen Jetsun Pema at Thimphu Dzong.
The King, the Queen, and Princess Akiko then offered a thousand butter lamps at the Grand Kuenrey of Tashichhodzong for the victims of the earthquake that struck Japan’s Kumamoto Prefecture on July 28, and prayed for the full recovery of the affected communities.
On August 11, Queen Jetsun Pema and Princess Akiko attended a traditional Japanese sweet-making workshop. Two chefs from Kyoto Wakuden, a renowned culinary establishment in Japan, demonstrated to the Queen, the Princess, and participants from SELWA how to make wagashi, traditional Japanese sweets crafted to reflect the seasons and served alongside tea.
SELWA, a non-profit organisation under the patronage of Queen Jetsun Pema, works with people with disabilities and their caregivers, alongside partner organisations and government agencies, to build a more inclusive Bhutan, with better access to education, growth, and employment opportunities for all. SELWA is working to establish a café to be run by young people with disabilities.
Wow. For me these pictures tell an important story: celebrating our differences is much richer than having everyone “modernise” and adopt the one fashion (one culture… one viewpoint… one system). Vive la différence!
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